Portable sterilizer



Nov. 30, 1943. I E. J. LE CLAIRE 2,335,681

PORTABLE STERILIZER Filed Nov. 20, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l [agape i e (/a/fe Nov. 30, 1943. E. J. LE CLAIRE PORTABLE STERILIZER Filed Nov. 20, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 Af/arpey v Non-30, 1943. E. J. LE CLAIRE PORTABLE STERILIZER Filed Nov. '20, 1940 a Sheets-Sheet s #13 Ai/orwcy Patented Nov. 30, 1943 PORTABLE STERILIZER Eugene J. Le'Claire, St. Paul, Minn, assignor to Harry F. Joesting, St. Paul, Minn.

Application November 20, 1940, Serial No. 366,359

2 Claims.

This invention relates and refers to portable sterilizers of the type commonly employed by dentists, and doctors, etc., in which steam under pressure is used as the sterilizing agent in cleansing the instruments.

An object of the invention is to provide means for a particularly rapid formation of steam and therefore the maintaining of the desired temperature. A further object is to secure a particularly compact construction and secure safety in operation.

To these ends the invention consists of the features of construction in combination hereinafter described as set forth.

Referring to the drawings;

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my invention;

Figure 2 is a top view or plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of my invention with parts removed to more fully illustrate the construction of the apparatus.

The sterilizer assembly consists of a sterilizer chamber A, and an associated steam boiler or generator B. The steam boiler comprises an outer chamber 3 and an enclosed air chamber 4. The inner chamber 4 is formed on its sides and bottom with outwardly projecting bosses 6 holding the inner chamber spaced from the outer chamber whereas to form a narrow passageway for the steam and water between the two chambers. The inner chamber is more materially spaced, as shown, from the top of the outer chamber to form a steam storage compartment.

Surrounding and spaced from the wall of the outer chamber 3 is a water chamber 5. The walls forming the water chamber are spaced relatively far apart at the lower end thereof, but extend closer together at the top thereof to form a relatively narrower top portion 1 extending over the top of the chamber 3. The water chamber is connected on both sides with the bottom of the sterilizing chamber by tubes 8. The chamber is supplied by water through the tubes 8. The tubes 8 also receive the Waters of condensation from the sterilizer and conduct the same back to the water chamber.

Tubes 9 lead from the bottom of the water chamber to the lower portion of the chamber 3. The tubes 9 are supplied with the usual couplings l0. Below the boiler is a fire-pot ll containing the heating unit C. A water gauge I2 is supported upon one end of the water chamber 5 as shown in Figure 3 by the pipe connections l3. The entire apparatus is supported by a suitable base l4 integral as shown within the outer wall of the water chamber.

The sterilizer chamber is at one end connected with a suitable safety valve l5 through the tubing Hi. The tubing l6 likewise connects through the elbow ll with the usual steam gauge I8 and with a steam exhaust l9 and a steam shut-01f 20. Water may, if desired, be added through the elements I9, 20.

The opposite end of the sterilizing chamber is closed by a head 2| provided with suitable closure bracket 22. The closure bracket is supported upon a pin 23 at one side of the sterilizing chamber. The opposite or free end of the bracket is locked to the end of a projection 24 upon the opposite side of the sterilizing chamber as by pin 25. A screw 26 is centrally threaded through the bracket 22 to bear against the head and hold the head in closed position as shown in Figure 2, the screw being manipulated by a turning handle 21.

In operation the water from the water chamber 5 will pass into the space between the chamber 4 and the walls of outer chamber 3 filling the space between the bottoms and sides of the chambers with a thin film of water. The heat from the heating unit in the fire-box will heat the bottom 01f the outer chamber 3 turning the water into steam, which steam will pass through the enlarged chamber between the tops of the chambers 3 and 4 and through the outlet pipe 28 into the bottom of the sterilizing chamber. At the same time the air within the inner chamber 4 will be heated assisting in the heating of the water and steam passing upwardly through chamber 3. The bosses 6 upon the walls of the inner chamber assist in radiating the heat from the inner chamber.

Through the direct heating of the thin film of water passing around the inner chamber 4, and the quick heating of the air within the inner chamber rapid transformation of the water into sterilizing steam is effected and the sterilizing chamber brought to a rapid sterilizing action.

The instruments to be sterilized are suitably supported within the sterilizing chamber. As will be shown, the steam will be kept under desired control. Any condensation of steam within the sterilizing chamber flows back to the water chamber through the connections 8.

With the construction shown and described steam pressure may be developed in an extremely short time. The construction is such as to utilize much of the heat from the heating unit, and is therefore unusually eificient.

I claim:

1. A sterilizing apparatus, comprising a sterilizing chamber, an associated boiler, a water chamber surrounding said boiler and spaced therefrom, a passageway connecting opposite sides of said water chamber and extending over the top of the boiler with said passageway being gradually narrowed to a point centrally above the boiler, a communicating passage between the bottom of the water chamber and the bottom of the boiler, an air container chamber positioned within said boiler and narrowly spaced from the sides and bottom of the boiler and more widely spaced from the top of the boiler to form a steam chamber, and a conduit, leading from the top of said steam chamber and through the narrowed conduit portion of said water chamber to the sterilizing chamber, for the purpose set forth.

2. A sterilizing apparatus comprising a sterilizing chamber, a boiler associated with said chamber, a water chamber surrounding said boiler and spaced therefrom, a passageway connecting opposite sides of said water chamber and extending over the top of the boiler with said passageway being gradually narrowed to a point centrally above the boiler, an air container chamber positioned within said boiler and narrowly spaced from the sides and bottom of said boiler, a conduit leading from the top of said steam chamber and through the narrowed portion of said water chamber to the sterilizing chamber, and a connection between the lower end of said water chamber and the lower end of said boiler.

EUGENE J. LE CLAIRE. 

